NRL 2025 Round 25 – Betting Tips, Odds & Predictions

There was minimal movement on the ladder in Round 24 of the NRL season, but the few changes that did take place were significant. The reigning Premiers’ stay inside the top four was a short one as the Panthers swapped places with the Warriors in 4th and 5th, while a little further down the Roosters took the Dolphins’ spot in the top eight. Three weeks now remain in the season, and there will be no shortage of significant games in that time. This weekend, we will see the Panthers take on the Raiders and the Storm take on the Bulldogs in matches with huge top four implications, while the Sea Eagles face the Dolphins to stay in the finals hunt on Saturday. Below, you can check out the NRL tips for the week from our rugby league expert at Australianbettingsites for every game across a huge weekend.

Odds provided by Playup

• Date: Thursday, 21st of August
• Kick off: 7.50pm AEST
• Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
• Broadcast info: Channel Nine, 9Now, Fox League

Bookmaker	Rabbitohs Odds	Dragons Odds
	$1.77	$2.05
	$1.88	$1.95
	$1.87	$1.93

Match Analysis

We’ll be eased into Round 25 with what is not exactly the most consequential game of the weekend when the Rabbitohs host the Dragons. The Bunnies have been out of the finals hunt for many, many months and have the worst points difference in the league, though they have picked up a couple of tight wins in the last fortnight over fellow cellar dwellers in the Titans and Eels.

The Dragons have actually been loitering around the bottom parts of the eight and gave themselves an outside chance of making it with surprise wins against the Raiders and Sharks in successive weeks, but that came to an end last weekend when they went down in a heartbreaking 14-10 loss to the Warriors which came after they led 10-0 early. Even if they had have won that game, however, they would’ve still been two games and points difference out of the top eight, so their hopes would have been mathematical only.

The Rabbitohs haven’t had much to play for for a while now, while the Dragons had been hanging onto an admittedly very slim hope until now. With nothing on the line for either team it’s hard to predict how this one will play out, but the Dragons are not typically the kind of team to throw in the towel, and as the better side can eke out a tight win.

Expert Tip

Dragons to win by 1-12 points @ $3.25 with Bet365

This could go either way, but the Dragons are a better team and should win.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Dragons to win @ $1.95 with Bet365
• Dragons +1.5 @ $1.87 with Bet365

• Date: Friday, 22nd of August
• Kick off: 6.00pm AEST
• Venue: Glen Willow Oval, Mudgee
• Broadcast info: Fox League

Bookmaker	Panthers Odds	Raiders Odds
	$1.65	$2.20
	$1.65	$2.20
	$1.66	$2.22

Match Analysis

We head to Mudgee to kick off the biggest Friday night of the season to date, with the Panthers looking to keep themselves in the hunt for a top four spot against a Raiders team trying to hang on to top spot. The Panthers went agonisingly close to making it 11 on the trot last weekend, leading the Storm for much of last Thursday’s game only to go down courtesy of a Harry Grant try in the 81st minute. With the Warriors holding off the Dragons, that meant the Panthers slipped back to 5th, and with only three weeks left in the season they can ill afford another loss.

But the Raiders, of course, will provide a very stern opponent. They remained a game clear on top of the ladder with an imposing 16-point win over the Sea Eagles last weekend, bouncing back from a disappointing defeat to the Dragons the week prior. That result also saw them accelerate two games clear of the Bulldogs in third, meaning a spot in the top two is theirs for the taking.

This should be a brilliant game between two teams with Premiership ambitions, and with plenty on the line there will be no shortage of ferocity from either side. But aside from late in last week’s game, the Panthers have hardly put a foot wrong for nearly three months. They might not be the team they have been at their best over the past four years, but they are still a force to be reckoned with and arguably the best in the business on their day, and are perfectly comfortable in high-pressure situations. I expect them to be too good for the Raiders in Mudgee.

Expert Tip

Panthers -2.5 @ $1.91 with Bet365

The Panthers have been nearly unstoppable in the second half of the season.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Over 40.5 total match points @ $1.89 with EliteBet
• Panthers 7+ @ $2.30 with PlayUp

• Date: Friday, 22nd of August
• Kick off: 8.00pm AEST
• Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
• Broadcast info: Channel Nine, 9Now, Fox League

Bookmaker	Storm Odds	Bulldogs Odds
	$1.55	$2.45
	$1.55	$2.50
	$1.54	$2.45

Match Analysis

Another huge game follows the Panthers vs Raiders clash, with two teams that are currently on track to play each other in a Qualifying Final in a few weeks’ time going head to head at AAMI Park. The Storm are a game clear of the Bulldogs in 2nd thanks to last weekend’s thrilling win over the Panthers, a win which made it four on the trot and 10 from their past 11.

The Bulldogs have not quite been tracking so well. They were battered by the Roosters in a subpar performance for a team with Premiership ambition, conceding four tries in succession through the middle parts of the game en route to a 20-point loss. They’re safely inside the top three, but with a substantially inferior points difference to the Storm they’re essentially two games back from second, and need to win this game if they’re to have any chance of a home Qualifying Final.

The Storm had the wood for many years over the Bulldogs until 2023, before bouncing back to beat them again last year – albeit it in a very close game. That may be what we’re in for once again here, but the Storm are very hard to get near at AAMI Park, and the Bulldogs are not exactly playing their best footy. This will be a fiercely contested game and scores will be hard to come by, but with their respective form lines and the Storm’s huge advantage at AAMI Park, the home side should be too good and solidify a spot in the top two in the process.

Expert Tip

Storm -6.5 @ $1.90 with EliteBet

The Storm are fresh off a brilliant win while the Bulldogs have been struggling.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Under 40.5 total match points @ $1.90 with PlayUp
• Storm to win by 13+ @ $2.90 with PlayUp

• Date: Saturday, 23rd of August
• Kick off: 3.00pm AEST
• Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
• Broadcast info: Fox League

Bookmaker	Eagles Odds	Dolphins Odds
	$1.90	$1.90
	$1.91	$1.91
	$1.88	$1.90

Match Analysis

More likely than not, neither of these two teams will play finals in 2025. But if any team not currently inside the eight does make it, it will be one of these two. If that’s to be the Sea Eagles, they have no choice but to win this weekend. They’re two games back from the Roosters in 8th and have a far inferior points difference, so realistically the four consecutive losses they’ve suffered have probably put them out of the hunt.

The Dolphins, in contrast, are far from out of it, though that will change if they can’t get the points this Saturday. They will be teeming after last week’s loss to the Broncos, a loss which came after they led 28-14 in the second half only to concede 24 consecutive points and fall out of the top eight in the process.

Unlike the Sea Eagles, however, the Dolphins have been playing like a team worthy of a spot in the finals. The last couple of weeks that has changed a little with two losses in a row, but their best is still very good, as they showed for a bit over a half last weekend. Their season is far from over, and if they can bring something resembling their best against the struggling Sea Eagles, they should be too good. As the underdog with Aussie betting sites, they look like great value to win.

Expert Tip

Dolphins to win @ $1.90 with Bet365

The Sea Eagles have really been struggling, while the Dolphins have been solid for a few months now.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Dolphins to win by 7+ @ $2.70 with PlayUp
• Over 48.5 total match points @ $1.91 with EliteBet

• Panthers -2.5 @ $1.91 with Bet365 – Granted the Raiders are on top of the ladder and the Panthers just outside the top four, but the latter have virtually been the best team in the business for the past three months. With the exception of last week’s game against the Storm, they have only failed to cover this line once since May.
• Storm vs Bulldogs under 40.5 total match points – Both of these teams are very strong defensively, and with plenty on the line this should be a tough game in which to score. For the Storm, four of their last five games have seen 40 points or less scored, while the Bulldogs haven’t played which has yielded more than 46 points in three months.
• Eels vs Roosters over 47.5 total match points – In complete contrast to the above teams, the Roosters are rarely involved in low-scoring affairs. Their game last weekend just fell short of this number at 44 points, but prior to that, seven of their previous eight games had yielded at least 50 points.

Same Game Multi Tip

• Date: Saturday, 22nd of August
• Kick off: 5.30pm AEST
• Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
• Broadcast info: Fox League

Bookmaker	Titans Odds	Warriors Odds
	$2.30	$1.62
	$2.45	$1.56
	$2.26	$1.63

Match Analysis

The Warriors have not played like a top four team for a while now, but thanks to a tight win for them last week and a tight loss for the Panthers, the double chance is once again theirs for the taking. They sit half a game clear of Penrith in 4th, and this weekend have a great opportunity to consolidate and potentially extend that buffer when they take on the bottom-placed Titans on the Gold Coast.

The home team had been decent for a month or so leading into last weekend, losing three tight games and winning one – which, it so happens, was against the Warriors. But last weekend their competitive form came grinding to a halt as they conceded 54 points to the Sharks, going down by 32 points to further lock them into bottom place.

According to the betting apps the Warriors are only a relatively slight favourite in this game, and given the result when the two sides met just a month or so ago it’s easy enough to see why. But the Titans have nothing to play for, and it showed last weekend. The Warriors might not be genuine contenders this year in the eyes of most, but they have plenty to play for in this game and should be able to win relatively comfortably against meek opposition.

Expert Tip

Warriors -3.5 @ $1.85 with PlayUp

The Warriors are no world beaters but they should have the Titans measure comfortably.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Warriors to win by 7+ @ $2.15 with PlayUp
• Warriors to win by 13+ @ $3.15 with Bet365

• Date: Saturday, 23rd of August
• Kick off: 7.35pm AEST
• Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
• Broadcast info: Channel Nine, 9Now, Fox League

Bookmaker	Eels Odds	Roosters Odds
	$3.35	$1.33
	$3.50	$1.31
	$3.10	$1.37

Match Analysis

The Eels have had a decent few weeks and went very close to making it three wins in four games last weekend, ultimately falling just four points short of the Rabbitohs. This weekend, they get an opportunity to play the spoiler for the Roosters, who have a whole lot more to play for in this game than the home team.

The Chooks are officially in the top eight after last weekend, with a terrific 20-point win over the Bulldogs combining nicely with the Broncos’ win over the Dolphins to see them take the latter’s spot inside the top eight. Their last three games of the season is a mixed bag, with two in which they’ll be comfortable favourites and one in which they’ll be a heavy underdog, so they have to capitalise on this one.

The Roosters have been very good over the past three weeks, beating the Sea Eagles, Dolphins and then Bulldogs by an aggregate total of 116-28. That would suggest that if they can maintain anything like their current form, they should be far too good for the Eels. The Roosters’ offence, in particular, has been humming of late, and against the Eels they could put up another big score en route to an important fourth win in a row.

Expert Tip

Roosters -9.5 @ $1.87 with Bet365

The Roosters have been winning big of late, and can keep that going against the Eels.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Roosters to win by 13+ @ $2.15 with PlayUp
• Over 47.5 total match points @ $1.86 with EliteBet

• Date: Sunday, 24th of August
• Kick off: 2.00pm AEST
• Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
• Broadcast info: Channel Nine, 9Now, Fox League

Bookmaker	Knights Odds	Broncos Odds
	$3.55	$1.30
	$3.75	$1.28
	$3.60	$1.30

Match Analysis

Things are going from bad to worse for the Knights, who after last weekend are now in the midst of a six-game losing streak. And those losses have been getting increasingly embarrassing. Last week’s 38-4 defeat at the hands of the Cowboys was their worst yet, though the previous two weren’t great either, coming by 36 and 26 points to the Panthers and Raiders respectively.

The Broncos, meanwhile, are coming off a pivotal win in which they came back from 14 points down to beat the Dolphins 38-28. That kept them just a game behind the Warriors in 4th and still well and truly in with a shot at the double chance, though they will also have to catch the Panthers, who are half-a-game ahead of then.

This is a must-win game for the Broncos, who have a lot to gain and just as much to lose over the next couple of weeks. For the Knights, meanwhile, the end of the season couldn’t come quickly enough. This should be a comfortable win for the visitors.

Expert Tip

Broncos to win by 13+ @ $2.15 with PlayUp

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Broncos -10.5 @ $1.89 with PlayUp
• Over 46.5 total match points @ $1.89 with EliteBet

• Date: Sunday, 24th of August
• Kick off: 4.05pm AEST
• Venue: Leicchardt Oval, Sydney
• Broadcast info: Channel Nine, 9Now, Fox League

Bookmaker	Team A Odds	Team B Odds
	$1.74	$2.10
	$1.72	$2.15
	$1.73	$2.14

Match Analysis

There isn’t much on the line in the final game of Round 25, but at least it might be close. The Tigers are going to ultimately fall a few games short of what would have been an unlikely return to the finals, but they are on track to clock double-figure wins for the first time in many years, a number it’s taken they’ve struggled to reach even over the course of two years recently.

The Cowboys have remained erratic and frustrating, putting in a few strong performances here and there and plenty of very bad ones. Last weekend was one of the good ones as they pummelled the hapless Knights, but nonetheless it has been a relatively disappointing year for the club.

It’s hard to know what to make of this game. Neither team has anything to play for though they are both coming off strong performances, but the Tigers have been a little more consistently solid. On their home turf, they might just be able to make it three wins on the trot.

Expert Tip

Tigers to win by 1-12 @ $3.60 with Bet365

This game could go in many different directions, btu the home team in a close one seems very plausible.

Alternative Bets to Consider

• Over 50.5 total match points @ $1.89 with EliteBet
• Tigers to win @ $1.74 with EliteBet